Niviventer andersoni ailaoshanensis Li et Yang

Li, Song & Yang, Junxing, 2009, Geographic variation of the Anderson’s Niviventer (Niviventer andersoni) (Thomas, 1911) (Rodentia: Muridae) of two new subspecies in China verified with cranial morphometric variables and pelage characteristics, Zootaxa 2196, pp. 48-58 : 52-54

Niviventer andersoni ailaoshanensis Li et Yang , subsp. nov.

Holotype: KIZ 99263, 3, adult, collected on 3 February 1999.

Type locality: Ailaoshan Mountain (24 0 32’ N, 101 0 01’E, elev. 2500 m), center Yunnan province, China. Diagnosis: General dorsal pelage color mainly ochraceous, the hinder part of the belly yellowish, the sides of the muzzle mainly grayish, and the quarter to third of distal part of the tail maroon. C.D. of LUM is larger than 1.28 between N. a. andersoni and N. a. ailaoshanensis , and C.D. of HM or LLM is larger than 1.28 between N. a. ailaoshanensis and N. a. pianmaensis ( Table 4 ).

Measurements of the holotype: External measurements (in mm): length of head and body, 170; tail length, 233; hind foot length, 33; ear length, 26. Cranial measurements (in mm): greatest length of the skull (GLS), 41.78; occipito-nasal length (ONL), 41.59; incisor breadth (IB), 3.46; length of incisive foramen (LIF), 7.87; length of upper molars (LUM), 7.41; interparietal width (IW), 12.28; mastoid breadth (MB), 11.51; braincase breadth (BD), 16.42; length of mandible (LM), 25.61; height of mandible (HM), 11.39; length of lower molars (LLM), 7.14; lower tooth row (LTR), 16.74; mandibular height (MH), 5.16.

Paratype: KIZ 99267, Ƥ, adult, collected on 31 January 1999 from the type locality.

Paratype measurements: External measurements (in mm): length of head and body, 169; tail length, 234; hind foot length, 28; ear length, 23. Cranial measurements (in mm): greatest length of the skull (GLS), 41.10; occipito-nasal length (ONL), 40.87; incisor breadth (IB), 3.41; length of incisive foramen (LIF), 7.44; length of upper molars (LUM), 7.17; interparietal width (IW), 11.80; mastoid breadth (MB), 10.78; braincase breadth (BD), 16.75; length of mandible (LM), 25.78; height of mandible (HM), 11.35; length of lower molars (LLM), 7.06; lower tooth row (LTR), 16.51; mandibular height (MH), 5.01.

Other referred specimens: 6 3, 10 Ƥ ( KIZ 99255~99262, 99264~99266, 99268~99272).

Distribution: The new subspecies is distributed in Ailaoshan mountain, center Yunnan province.

Etymology: The new subspecies is named according to the type locality.

Morphological description: N. a. ailaoshanensis subsp. nov. quite distinct

and apparently fairly stable in the following characteristics: (1) General dorsal color is a mixture of ochraceous and gray. As compared with N. a. andersoni and N. a. pianmaensis , N. a. ailaoshanensis has the least black intermixed along the back, so its back mainly shows ochraceous tone; (2) Flanks and sides of cheeks and neck are ochraceous-buff, but the sides of muzzle are mainly grayish; (3) Areas that extend from the muzzle to and around each eye are blackish brown; (4) Underparts are pure white, but the hinder part more or less yellowish, and some specimens (9 of 18) have a small spot on the chest; (5) Ears are dark brown; (6) The upper surfaces of the front and hind feet are dark brown, and the sides white; (7) The upper surface of the tail is blackish brown, but the distal quarter to third maroon.